On June 17, 1939, Eugen Weidmann—a slick, handsome 31-year-old German—became the last person to be publicly executed via guillotine in France. His journey toward being a trivia-question answer started with a kidnapping gone awry, and spiraled into a deadly crime spree that spanned half of 1937.

Better late than never? The head of German serial killer Fritz Haarmann — known as"The Butcher of Hannover" and "The Vampire of Hannover" — was cremated after spending 89 years bobbing in formaldehyde.

You've probably seen the guillotine in historical epics and Dickens adaptations. But were you aware that it struck a blow for egalitarianism in more than one way? The French believed the guillotine's angled blade was both a scientific and social innovation. Here's why.

Three blades! Triple the effectiveness! And then Schick would come out with their Quattro Guillotine and then Gillette would up the ante to five and then it'd keep going until there would be no more heads to chop off... [Wulffmorgenthaler]

Whether you're reenacting the French Revolution or screaming "Off with her head!" a la the Queen of Hearts, this DIY guillotine is the way to go. And based on the video, it looks easier to assemble than some shelving units.